Traveling outdoors is a great way to enjoy scenic nature spots such as mountains, beaches and woods. You can easily destress and leave your worry in the city.
There might be equipment like watches (check out our suggestions for the best outdoor watches) running without electricity. Nevertheless, people tend to be attached with their mobile devices and other electronic appliances. With this, travelers cannot easily let go of their need of power supply.
There are campsites with electricity. However most of the time, there is a limited supply. You no longer need to fret as there are portable power sources you can consider. You may still experience enjoyment of the comforts of your own home. We recommend you figure out how you can get electricity while outdoors.
Power sources can help you charge your mobile devices and power up your electronic gadgets. To keep you safe, you need a reliable light source should you plan in staying up each night. Here are some sources of electricity to help you with this dilemma. With these tips you can prepare how to camp without electricity.
Gas Generator
When getting a power supply circuit as you go outdoors, the first thing campers come to mind is a gas generator. This is an easy way to get power but provides a very loud noise.
This type of generator usually emits fumes when running. With this, it tends to eliminate the benefits of fresh air when spending time outdoors.
Most campsites banned generators using gas due to air pollution reasons. With this, we recommend finding an alternative source of power unless there is no other option. Gas generators may be preferred should you utilize a campsite with no other campers roaming around.
In general, gas generators offer several pros and cons in terms of usage. They are a reliable power source which you can easily bring along on outdoor trips. Nevertheless, it is noisy and emits fumes which are harmful to the environment. Moreover, it is expensive and can cost you several hundreds of dollars.
Thermoelectric Generator (TEG)
Known as an expensive generator powered with gasoline, TEGs provide less efficiency but advantages on some factors. TEG converts temperature differences to electricity.
On a common camping situation, the generator gathers energy created coming from temperature differences of two points. The advantage of this is that you may utilize a TEG as you explore the wilderness. You just need to build a fire as well as use banked coals as a heat source.
The disadvantage of using a TEG is they are expensive compared with gasoline generators. Nevertheless, they generate electricity that can power up even small appliances.
By burning a couple of wood chunks on your stove, you can utilize the differential in heat to create an output from five to 12 watts. This can be used to charge your mobile devices as well as camping lights.
Some TEG models even have the ability to produce at most 15 watts of power. We recommend you look for a TEG equipped with batter attachments for power storage. It is a great product as you produce power while you cook dinner in your stove.
Pedal Generator
Another typical electricity source when traveling outdoors are the pedal generators. The power harvested from this type of generator comes from manual work by the user. A regular bike with pedals may be used to create a simple generator.
The pedals shall aid in charging electronic devices such as small appliances and mobile device. It can also recharge batteries for your camping light source.
Pedal generators offer disadvantage as it cannot store energy unlike other generators. You shall always need to pedal in order to obtain electricity. You must also take note that portable types need to be situated well in the base. This allows comfortable pedaling for long periods of time.
Most outdoor enthusiasts utilizing this type of generator reported that it works well when charging multiple items. Furthermore, it is less expensive compared with other popular generators. You may purchase one for just a few hundred dollars.
Car Battery
What is camping electric hook up?
While camping, the easiest option where to get power supply is your car battery. You can easily plug in your charging devices through the outlet for the cigarette lighter. This can easily work when charging mobile devices as well as small appliances.
However, you must not use to for a long period of time or it shall lower the charge of the car battery. It may cause your car to fail when starting.
On the other hand, you can just readily bring a 12-volt portable power source. This addresses the same electricity needs should you prefer to utilize a battery that has 12 volts. This portable power source comes with its own camping site electrical outlet and converters. Moreover, they have panels which indicate the amount of charge left.
The cost of this power source is almost similar to that of pedal generators. Nevertheless, if you are mobile as you explore outdoors, this may not be for you. It can add up to 30 lbs. in your backpack.
Portable and Compact Battery Packs
One of the modern solutions when it comes to the power source is a battery pack. Instead of carrying battery backup or car battery, you can easily pack a compact battery pack. You may easily fit these in a small bag of your choice.
Battery packs are great when charging small mobile devices and electronics. This type of power source utilizes batteries made from lithium ion. It usually includes USB ports and other standard electrical campground power outlets.
The output power is measured using amp hours or Ah. Power of at least 27Ah can charge minor electronics even for days. Note that smaller power packs are portable and generally more affordable.
Solar Power
Considered by most outdoor enthusiasts as the best power source solution, this type provides clean and quiet energy. As soon as you purchase a solar power device, you just need to set it up and it is already free.
Solar panels are portable and should be set up on the sunniest part of your camping location. You must take advantage of the most available sunlight in the area.
As it is powered by the sun, you can only harvest electricity during sunny days. With this, you need battery storage to go along with the solar electricity kit. Most of the solar power devices come with a battery pack that is portable.
You may prefer rugged, lightweight and waterproof kit if you will bring it outdoors. As the sun rises, you must have your battery pack ready as an attachment. Nevertheless, it should also be allowed to recharge from your car.
To prevent the battery of the vehicle from getting damaged, you need a reliable inverter. This allows the battery pack to be safely charged. Note that your battery can get destroyed if you are charging without an inverter.
Overall, solar kits provide several advantages such as little effort in packing and easier to set up. They also require less or even no maintenance. Moreover, solar power requires a thrifty investment compared with other power sources.
Wind or Water Turbines
Most outdoor enthusiasts find chargers powered with solar energy as limiting. It does not work during the night and even during the day should the sunlight is blocked. Moreover, it is not preferable for dense forest areas and cloudy day.
Fortunately, there are portable wind and water turbine power source which you can use during these times. It can provide a maximum power of up to 15 watts and charge your mobile devices.
Similar to solar power, all you need to get is the kit and you are good to go. No further charges shall be charged and everything thereon shall be free.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the power sources you may consider when traveling outdoors. You can easily get one that fits well with your camp location.
We recommend finding one that is lightweight and portable. It should not take too much space in your bag, leaving ample area for your essentials. In this way, you will no longer need to worry about getting tired easily due to your heavy baggage.
